Lions CB Okudah has season-ending Achilles tendon injury

Posted September 13, 2021 7:00 am

By LARRY LAGE

Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah sits on the field after being injured against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. Okudah suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) The Associated Press

Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah has a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, the team announced Monday.

'œHe will be out for the rest of the year,'ť Lions coach Dan Campbell said. 'œI hate it for him, and I hate it for us as a team because he has really been coming around.'ť

Okudah was hurt in the fourth quarter Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers held on to win 41-33 against the Lions.

'œAs someone who was injured a lot as a player, I know what it is like to be in the training room again,'ť Campbell said. 'œYou have to be careful to let it get you down. His whole focus after the surgery has to be getting ready for 2022.'ť

Detroit drafted the Ohio State star with the No. 3 overall pick last year and injuries limited him to nine games as a rookie. Okudah appeared to make improvements during training camp, but he had a rough game in Week 1.

Lions secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant was seen shouting at the 22-year-old Okudah, who did as much talking as listening, on the sideline. Later in the game, Okudah fell in coverage on a 79-yard touchdown reception.

Campbell said the team will look for a veteran to help a very young secondary.

Detroit (0-1) will play at Green Bay (0-1) in Week 2 on Monday night.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (23) in action against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Detroit. Okudah has a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, a person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press, Monday, Sept. 13. Okudah was hurt in the fourth quarter Sunday as the 49ers held on to win 41-33 against the Lions. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday morning because results of his MRI had not been announced.(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) The Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell (25) is brought down by Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (23) in the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Football NFL NHL Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.